Comedy director Adam McKay’s very serious documentary about the dropout epidemic in American schools gained a key ally today. Scott “Scooter” Braun, who manages such musical acts as Justin Bieber and The Wanted and produced Bieber’s 2011 concert movie Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, has signed on to produce the film along with McKay. The project has been in development since McKay hooked up with documentary filmmaker Jason Pollock last fall.
“Addressing the education crisis in America, which includes providing support for the communities and students where ‘dropout factories’ exist, has to become a priority for our country,” Braun said in a statement. “We hope that this project reminds everyone, from career politicians to kids sitting in their dorm rooms, how important it is that every child receives a quality education and as a community it is our responsibility to step up and do everything we can to make sure that happens.”

The filmmakers hope to use footage they’ve assembled for the still-untitled documentary as part of a school tour in the lead-up to this fall’s presidential election.